No TVs (except in living room and The Garden House rooms), phones, or Internet access

Seasonal only -- closed November to early April

Bottom Line

This quaint inn is centered more around historical charm than modern amenities. It offers spacious but basic rooms donning a mix of Colonial and Queen-Anne furnishings, floral and toile wallpaper, and other antique touches that make you feel as if you're stepping back to 1798 (when the inn was originally built as a residence for whaling Captain Thomas Worth). The history of the inn is rich (John F. Kennedy stayed here while he was a state senator), but its history also means there are thin walls, creaky floors, and a lack of amenities. The central location, though, makes it an excellent base from which to explore the surrounding charming town and beaches. But plan to do so only during tourist season -- the inn is closed from November to early April.

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Scene

Step back in time in this historical residence

Dining Room at the Edgartown Inn

Built in 1798 as the residence for Captain Thomas Worth (father of Mexican War-hero and Fort Worth, Texas' namesake William Jenkins Worth), seemingly not much has changed inside the Edgartown Inn. Antique furnishings adorn the common areas and the individually designed rooms, lending an air that you've stepped back in time. A shared living room features a large leather Chesterfield sofa where guests can relax and watch TV or read the daily newspaper or a book from the well-stocked book shelves. A spacious front porch offers ample wicker seating from which to take in the quiet street view, and a patio area out back is a great place to enjoy breakfast from a garden-surrounded outdoor setting.

The interior dining room feels more lodge-like with wood-paneled walls, an eclectic mix of early-American antiques filling every nook and cranny, and a stuffed elk head (complete with rifle) mounted on the wall. The dining room, which is open to the public as well, only serves breakfast, which is not included in room rates.

With antiques and historical portraits filling every space (plus creaky floors and thin walls), the history of The Edgartown Inn is evident around every turn. Perhaps that's why, throughout the years, notable guests like Daniel Webster, Nathaniel Hawthorne and even John F. Kennedy have stayed here -- and why history buffs are drawn here today.

Location

Centrally located in Edgartown within a short walk to area activities and sights

Located close to Main Street in the middle of the quaint Martha's Vineyard town of Edgartown, guests have quick access to shops, galleries, and restaurants. Plus, the harbor is a short walk away.

Martha’s Vineyard is an island off the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Long known as a place where politicians, celebrities, and wealthy elite go to summer vacation, Martha's Vineyard also draws a heavy crowd of coastal-loving tourists. During the summer, the population more than quadruples with visitors, but the rest of the year it's a quiet and relaxing coastal hideaway. Edgartown is the island’s largest town and is a popular destination because of the many shops, galleries, and restaurants on Main Street. The movie "Jaws" was also filmed here.

For beautiful sunrises, head over to nearby Lighthouse Beach; for sunsets, South Beach in Katama is a popular destination. Catch the ferry into Oak Bluffs, a town known for its adorable gingerbread cottages, or into Vineyard Haven. Both towns offer plenty of cute shops, galleries, and restaurants, and are good jumping-off points for visiting the rest of the island. Chappaquiddick Island is just across the way (most famous for Ted Kennedy's infamous car accident).

On the west side of the island (a bit more remote than on the east), Menemsha is known as the spot for unbelievable sunsets along the harbor. The Gay Head Cliffs, and Gay Head Lighthouse, are also local points of interest.

Getting to Martha’s Vineyard can only be done by ferry or air. Ferries run out of Woods Hole, Falmouth, New Bedford, Hyannis (all MA locations), and Quonset Point, RI into Oak Bluffs or Vineyard Haven. If you want to bring a car to the island, you have to depart from Woods Hole, as the Steamship Authority is the only ferry that transports cars. Cape Air, US Airways and Jet Blue offer service into Martha’s Vineyard Airport for those choosing to fly.

If you are staying in town or don’t intend to do much traveling around the island, a car isn’t necessary. The Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority operates efficient buses that travel the island year round. And given the extreme lack of parking in town, a car can be a huge headache in the summer. Biking is another popular mode of transportation.

11-minute drive to Martha's Vineyard Airport

2-minute walk to Main Street with plenty of restaurants, shops, and galleries

7-minute walk to Lighthouse Beach

45-minute ferry ride to Woods Hole, Oak Bluffs or Vineyard Haven

30-minute drive to Menemsha Beach

20-minute drive to Vineyard Haven

15-minute drive to Oak Bluffs

Rooms

Simple rooms with antique furnishings and historic charm

Porch at the Linden Room

Rooms in the main building are named after some of the inn’s most famous guests (such as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Daniel Webster), and are decorated with a mix of antique furnishings and country-cottage decor (think wicker chairs and floral wallpaper). The cheapest rooms share a bathroom, but even the most expensive rooms are still less than any other nearby inn. If you absolutely must have a television, book a Garden House room, as they are the only guest rooms with a TV (tube TV). Some of the bathrooms do show signs of wear and tear, but most feel modern compared with the rest of the inn.

The beds are comfy -- through their bare, minimal dressing (simple white coverlet) makes them feel a bit ghostly.

Bottom Line

This quaint inn is centered more around historical charm than modern amenities. It offers spacious but basic rooms donning a mix of Colonial and Queen-Anne furnishings, floral and toile wallpaper, and other antique touches that make you feel as if you're stepping back to 1798 (when the inn was originally built as a residence for whaling Captain Thomas Worth). The history of the inn is rich (John F. Kennedy stayed here while he was a state senator), but its history also means there are thin walls, creaky floors, and a lack of amenities. The central location, though, makes it an excellent base from which to explore the surrounding charming town and beaches. But plan to do so only during tourist season -- the inn is closed from November to early April.